Paper container



Nov. 29, 1955 J. A. OREILLY 2,725,173

PAPER CONTAINER Filed June 13, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zhmentor JOSEPH 6. 0 95/41. Y

Nov- 1955 J. A. O'REILLY PAPER CONTAINER ets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1949 United States Patent 6 PAPER CONTAINER Joseph A. OReilly, Bellingham, Wash.

Application June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,743

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to what are generally referred to as paper boxes or cartons, and which are of a type suitable for the packaging of various material of granular or liquid consistency. More specifically, the present invention contemplates the making of boxes or cartons that may be utilized in packaging materials that-are to be poured through openings provided in the cartons for such purpose. Furthermore, the invention has particular reference to the provision of substantialy rigid paper boxes and containers that are mechanically assembled, filled and handled.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a container or box of the above stated character, wherein a convenient and sanitary means is provided for readily opening the container when it is desired toremove part or all of the contents therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the box or container with a readily detachable tab, providing for pouring contents from the container, which tab may also be pressed back into place after a portion of the contents has been removed, thus to protect the remaining portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide an opening for the convenient removal of the contents of the container; said opening being located in the top of the container, adjacent to a side wall, or, alternatively, in the side wall adjacent to the top.

A still further object of this invention is to provide the container with a readily removable, partially detached tab which, upon being detached, uncovers a pouring opening, the tab serving, both before being detached and as a reclosure, to protect the pouring opening and area thereabout.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts and mode of use of the container, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construc tion, the preferred forms of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodied by the present invention, wherein provisionis made for uncovering a pouring opening in the top edge of a side wall of the container.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container with the detachable flap broken away and raised to uncover the pouring opening.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container, illustrating the pouring of contents therefrom.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the top portion of the container taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2, and illustrating the detaching of the outer tab and the upward folding of the closure parts touncover the pouring opening.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of the inverted container prior to sealing the bottom cover flap and disclosing the opening through which the container may be filled.

2,725,173 1 Batented No 29, .9.5.5.

for. the. making of a container having the discharge opening in the; topoffthe container, as has been illustrated in ,Figs. 8, 9 and 10 F v ar r nec ive view o hwpp rp of a container formedjr'omtheblank of. Fig. 7, and illustrated w th h ncutingon. a lo ed and e d- Fig, 9'is a,p e i'spec ti e view of the. top portion of the,

sa nt: container, illustratingthe closure flaps folded back from the opening to permitpouring of contents from the container.

Fig, 10 is a perspective view of the container illustrating the P ring. f o en s. her r Referringmore in detail to the drawings:

C01 tainers which are comprised by the present inven.- tion arefor med' from. lightweight cardboard, or a similar or suitable material; which may vary in thickness or weight as maybe desiredor required. In the event that theQcontainer is to be'filled with a liquid or moist substance, it is desirable thatthe cardboard be coated with. paraffi n, Waxor other moisture resisting material, applied to one or both surfaces thereof, thus to prevent penetration or seepage of, the liquid. The size or shape of containers may vary as desired or required; however, in a preferred form, the container is square or rectangular in form.

The assembled container, which I have illustrated in one. f'itsrnodifi'cations in Figs. 1, 2. and 3, is designated in its entirety by reference numeral 10. It is formed from a blank a s illustrated in Fig. 6, which blankis designated in its entirety by numeral 11. This blank is scored, cut and folded to form acontainer of the desired size, shapev and structural features necessary to accomplish the objects of the invention.

Thecontainer blank is cut in an irregular, geometric form, somewhat rectangular, and is scored longitudinally to define 'the'height of the container and transversely scored to define the side walls and an end flap for joining ends of the blank in box form. The longitudinal lines of scoring are parallelqand are designated by numerals 12 and 13, respectively, and the transverse lines of scoring are designated by reference numerals 14, 15, 16 and 17, respectively. These, score lines define the wall panels a, b, c andd, and -the end flap 26. At the outside of the scored line 1 2-, continuing from panels a and c, there are two inside flaps l8 and 19. Likewise, continuing from panel (1 is the outside cover flap 20. The two flaps 18 and.19 are one-half the widthof the carton and the flap 19'is. separated'from the cover flap Zil by cutting along the line 16x to the. point of intersection of the scoring lines 12 and:16,;, The outside cover flap is formed at its outer; end with an extending tuck-in flap 22 which is setoif byascored line23parallel with line 12. Formed in the flap 22is a sectionin the form of a partially detached'flapor' tab 24; defined at one edge by the line of scoring-23, and entirely separated from the flap 22 on its other three edges, providing that the tab may be pulled out ofthe flap-22; to provide a pouring opening for the container.

In use of the containenthis tab 24 is not pulled off out is folded'outwardly and upwardly as seen in Figs. 2

3 removal of the tab 25 when it carton.

Extending below the longitudinal line of scoring 13, from the panels a, c and d, respectively, are inside bottom flaps 27, 28 and 29. Likewise extending from panel b.

is the bottom cover flap 30. The inside flaps and cover flap are separated one from the other along the cut lines 14y, 15y and 16y, respectively. The flaps 27 and 28 are one-half the width of the carton and bottom cover 30 and coact one with the other to form the inside bottom of the carton. Each of these flaps is formed in its outer edges with a semi-circular cutout or recess, as at 27x and 28x, so that when folded one toward the other, as in the formed carton, a circular, center opening is provided. The flap 29, which in the finished carton overlaps the two flaps 27 and 28, has a circular hole 29x provided at its center that registers with the opening formed between the shorter flaps. In the finished carton the cover flap 30 is folded over the flap 29 and the overlapped parts are adhesively joined to seal the bottom of the carton.

After the blank has thus been scored and cut, an adhesive is applied to various portions. The adhesive may be a glue or resin of the type commonly used for such purposes. As is illustrated in Fig. 6, the adhesive is applied to and completely covers the outside surface of the flaps 18 and 12, the outer edge surface of flap 22, the edge flap 26, and likewise the bottom-forming flaps 27, 28 and 29. Adhesive is also applied to the outer surface of the partially detached tab 24.

After the carton blank has been formed, cut, scored and perforated as hereinbefore described, it may easily and quickly be formed into a carton of predetermined shape in the following manner: The side walls are formed by bending the blank at right angles, in the same direction, on scoring lines 14, 15, 16 and 17. The end flap 26 is then adhesively secured to the edge of the adjacent side wall, as indicated in Fig. 5. The top is then formed and sealed closed by folding the flaps 18 and 19 inwardly on the scoring line 12 toward one another. The top cover flap 20 is then folded to overlap the flaps 18 and 19 and be adhesively sealed thereto. The tuck flap 22 is bent down along the scoring line 23, and is inserted within the carton between the top edge of the wall panel b and adjacent edges of the flaps 18 and 19. This flap is then adhesively sealed to the side wall. When the upper end parts are so assembled, the partially detached flap 24 is directly behind the flap 25, as indicated in Fig. 1, and is glued thereto, so that when the flap 25 is broken loose along the lines of perforation, and bent outwardly and upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the flap 24 will be folded outwardly, providing the opening, p, in Fig. 2, through which the contents may be poured from the container.

The bottom end of the carton is closed by folding the flaps 27 and 28 on the scoring line 13 toward each other. The flap 29 is then folded thereover and adhesively secured thereto. With these bottom flaps 27, 28 and 29 folded and secured together, by the adhesive on parts 2'7 and 28, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the container is closed except for the circular opening in its end which has been provided for its filling. After the liquid or other ingredients have been put into the carton through this opening, the bottom cover flap 30 is folded over the flap 29 and adhesively secured thereto by the adhesive on the flap 29. Thus the carton is tightly closed and its contacts will be retained therein.

To remove part or all of the contents from the carton, the tab 25 is broken loose from the side wall along the perforated lines which define it. The detached part 25 and tab 24 glued thereto are then folded upwardly, as in Fig. 2. Then by tilting the container, as in Fig. 3, its contents can be poured out. When the required or desired quantity of the contents has been removed, the carton is brought to upright position and the pouring opening may be closed by pressing the flaps 24 and 25 back is desired to open the into their normal closed positions. In doing this, the tab 24 will fit as a plug or stopper in the pouring opening.

In Fig. 7, a blank for a container of alternative form is illustrated. It is designated in its entirety by reference to numeral 11a. In this alternative form, illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the discharge opening p is provided in the top end of the carton rather than in the upper portion of the side wall. The blank from which the carton is formed comprises parts corresponding to those of the blank in Fig. 6 and bearing the same reference characters. To provide for the change in position of the discharge opening, the top cover fiaps and discharge opening, otherwise like those in Fig. 6, are aitered in the following manner: The flaps 18 and 19 have portions thereof cut away on the opposing corners thereof, forming the recesses as at 18d and 19d. A small, partially detached flap 26a is provided in the top cover flap This small flap is defined at one side by a-line of coring 23a and the cardboard is cut through on lines r';-23b and on scoring line 23 between the lines b-23b. Because of the change in location of the ouring opening from a side wall to the top of the container, a short outside cover fiap 21 is provided on the biank 11a between the flaps 18 and 15 which contains therein the tab 25 set off by perforations 25b and line of scoring 25c.

In closing the top end of the container made from biank 11a, first, the flaps 18 and 19 are folded inwardly toward each other and the recessed corner portions of these flaps provide an opening between them adjacent the side wall panel b. The top cover flap 2%- is then folded to overlap the flaps 18 and 19 and for its adhesive securement thereto. Also, the tuck flap 22 is inserted between the top edge of wall panel I; and edges of flaps 18 and l) and sealed to the adjacent side wall. The flap 21 is then folded to extend over a portion of the top cover flap 2% as in Fig. 8 and is adhesively secured thereto. In this alternative form of construction of the carton, the fiap 2% has adhesive applied to the outside or top surface so that it will become secured to that portion of the tab 25 between the perforated lines. Adhesive is applied to the flap 21 only in the area which is outside the perforated line 25b and the scoring line 25c.

To remove the contents from the container of Fig. 8, the flap 25 is broken loose along the perforated lines and folded back on the scoring line 250, as illustrated in Fig. 9. This causes the flap Zita, glued thereto, to be raised and thereby providing the pouring opening 9. The container may then be tilted and the contents poured therefrom, as illustrated in Fig. 10. After the desired quantity has been removed, the flaps 20a and 25 may then be pressed back to their normal position and the opening in the carton is thereby closed.

It is not my desire or intention that this invention should be limited to the specific size or shape of the containers as herein illustrated and described, but rather that the spirit of this invention shall be considered to reside in the structure and formation of the containers, the relationship of the various parts thereof and more particularly in the provision of novel and useful means for opening the container for removal of the contents therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as tow therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A container of the character described comprising a side Wall, and a top wall equipped with an edge flap lying at the inside of and secured about its edges to said side wail; said flap having a tab formed therein and detached except along one edge, which edge is defined by the line of juncture of the flap with the top wall; said side wall having a detachable tab at the top edge thereof defined therein by a weakened line, said latter tab directly overlying the first mentioned tab and extending at its edges beyond the corresponding edges thereof and said tabs having adjacent surfaces adhesively joined, providing for outward and inward hinging of the tabs along the line of juncture of the said flap with the top wall, upon detachment of the side wall tab.

2. A one piece rectilinear dispensing container comprising side, top and bottom walls, a short flap integral with and extending beyond and at substantially right angles to the top wall and defined therefrom by a fold line, the flap being in overlapping and permanently secured relationship to the inner face of a portion of one of the side walls which is substantially right-angularly disposed with respect to the top wall and with the said fold line of the flap coinciding with the upper edge of the side Wall, said flap being of a size not more than one-half the area of the top Wall and of a width substantially equal to the width of the top Wall and also of substantially the same width as the side wall, said flap having a relatively small displaceable tab detached about its perimeter except along one edge that is defined by a score line, which score line coincides with the fold line of said flap, the tab providing an opening in the flap of substantially its same size when the tab is displaced from the flap, the outer overlapped side wall portion having a tab defined therein by weakened lines and larger in dimension than said displaceable tab and overlying the relatively small displaceable tab and with the two tabs permanently secured together, and one side edge of said larger tab coinciding with the score line of the smaller tab, thus providing for simultaneous movement of both tabs when the weakened lines of the larger tab are broken and it is swung on an are away from the wall from which it has been detached and carrying with it the smaller tab which is swung on its score line and exposing the said opening through which the contents of the container can be discharged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,957 Sooy Nov. 25, 1951 2,288,914 Monroe July 7, 1942 2,364,439 Guyer Dec. 5, 1944 2,365,159 Walton et al. Dec. 19, 1944 2,470,388 Ball May 17, 1949 2,555,526 Zinn June 5, 1951 2,581,237 Casler Jan. 1, 1952 2,583,211 Fleming Jan. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 565,842 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1944 

